March 28, 2025
We’re a Star Wars family.
My wife and kids are all-in — I’m the least obsessed one in the house, but it’s worth every minute seeing the joy it gives them.
The lightsabers, the costumes, the endless debates about which trilogy is superior — it’s a way of life for my three kids (Logan, 13; Henry, 12; and Sophie, 9) and my wife, Julie.
We’ve been to Disney World many times over the years, but our most recent six-day, five-night trip was a game-changer in terms of how we approached the finances.
And with Disney prices skyrocketing, finding a smarter way to manage the cost became a financial mission of its own.
Here’s how I got a great deal.
The Disney Price Tag Shock
If you’ve looked into Disney vacations recently, you know one thing for certain: the prices have skyrocketed.
As a long-time Disney shareholder, I’ve benefited from their aggressive pricing strategy, but as a dad planning a family vacation, I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw the costs.
The rack rate for the two-bedroom villa we wanted at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort was a staggering $2,700 per night — inflated even further because we were traveling during a school break.
And even outside of peak times, the standard rate still hovers around $2,100, which is no bargain either.
That’s right – $2,700 PER NIGHT.
It’s insane how expensive Disney is now.
I mean, we’ve been shareholders forever, but come on!
At those prices, even the family in line behind us at Starbucks with the matching custom Mickey ears might think twice.
At those prices, you start wondering, “How do regular families do this?”
It certainly doesn’t align with sensible financial planning, even for families with substantial means.
Hacking the Disney System
This is where my background in wealth management kicked in.
I’ve always believed that the principles of smart investing can apply to many aspects of life, including family vacations.
For the first time, I decided to explore the secondary market for Disney Vacation Club (DVC) points.
After researching my options, I found a DVC Rental Store where owners sell their unused points to travelers like us.
The process was surprisingly seamless, though it does involve a bit of a waiting game before your offer is accepted.
From Wall Street to Galaxy’s Edge
The financial outcome was remarkable.
Instead of paying $2,700 per night for our two-bedroom villa at Saratoga Springs, I secured the same accommodation for just $760 per night.
That’s a whopping 70% savings!
But here’s what matters just as much: we didn’t compromise on anything.
We still stayed on property.
Still had the spacious two-bedroom villa.
Still got the full Star Wars immersion.
That’s the key: value optimization without compromise.
Same hotel. Same perks. 70% less.
I’ve crunched the numbers on actually purchasing a DVC membership outright, and I can’t make the math work for our specific vacation patterns.
But using the rental approach made perfect financial sense for our family.
Beyond the Savings: Our Star Wars Adventure
While the financial aspects were satisfying from an investor’s perspective, the real joy came from watching my family experience their Star Wars dreams.
My kids and my wife are absolute Star Wars nerds (the biggest in our house), and we spent most of our trip exploring Hollywood Studios.
Some of our favorite experiences included:
- Piloting the Millennium Falcon (my kids argued over who got to be the gunners)
- Experiencing Rise of the Resistance (worth every minute of the wait)
- Building custom droids (each of my kids bought one with their own money)
We didn’t purchase any lightsabers at the park, though – my wife had already ordered them directly from China at a fraction of the Disney price.
It’s a perfect example of our approach: thinking differently, getting the same quality, and avoiding the upcharge.
Why pay $200+ for a lightsaber at Galaxy’s Edge when you can get virtually identical ones online for a quarter of the price?
Pro Tip: If your kids want lightsabers, order them ahead of time online from DamienSaber. Same look, costs way less. Bonus points if they arrive before the trip, so you can do pre-park battles in the living room.
Conclusion
Think like an investor, live like a dad!
What I took away from this experience is that the mindset I use professionally with investments can yield significant benefits in personal spending as well.
The same thinking that protects and grows capital can be applied throughout life.
That’s what separates people who build wealth from people who just spend it.
By looking beyond the conventional approach and exploring alternative markets, we were able to create an unforgettable family experience without the financial pain that typically accompanies it.
This approach works beyond Disney trips.
Whether it’s real estate, education planning, or even birthday presents, thinking a layer deeper about money, decisions, and the real cost of things often reveals smarter options.
Helping people think a layer deeper — about money, decisions, and the real cost of things — that’s what I do every day, and it turns out it applies just as well to Disney as it does to investing.
I’m not just an advisor talking about theoretical strategies; I’m a dad and a consumer putting these principles into practice.
I live what I recommend, and that makes all the difference.
Sometimes, the best returns don’t come from traditional investments, but from applying an investor’s analytical approach to everyday life — especially when those returns include priceless family memories.